Bandit came up and pushed his snout into her hand.
“I’m not sad,” she said to the dog, scratching him behind his ears. He put his chin on her lap and looked up at her as if he knew she was lying.
Lucy leaned back on the living-room couch and closed her eyes, absently petting Bandit. She tried not to be sad. This was Jesse’s first Thanksgiving with Sean, and she wanted it to be memorable. Dillon’s flight was delayed, he and Kate would be here later this morning. Kane and Siobhan were driving up from Hidalgo right now and would be here in a couple hours. They were supposed to be here yesterday but changed plans. She’d already talked to her mom and dad, who were going to Connor and Julia’s house for the holiday, along with Carina and Nick and JP.
She was really sad that Patrick wasn’t coming. Sure, she understood that Elle’s work was important, but so was family. And every time Patrick was going to come out for a visit, something in Elle’s life stopped him. The only time he’d been out here was for her wedding, and she absently thought that if Elle had had an emergency he would have bowed out of that, too.
That’s not fair, Lucy.
Maybe Lucy was a little bit jealous. She and Patrick had been so close for so long, and now they rarely talked. Patrick and Sean had once been best friends, but now when they talked it was about work.
Truly, though, it was the distance. If she’d stayed in DC, she and Patrick wouldn’t have grown apart.
Sean sat down next to her and kissed her. “Don’t look sad.” He put his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck. “Eating is delayed only a couple hours.”
“I know. Just … melancholy. Though you bought far too much, we’re going to be eating leftovers for weeks.”
“They’ll be delicious leftovers.”
Sean had taught himself how to cook, which was a relief to Lucy because she wasn’t good in the kitchen and she didn’t really want to learn. But last week he’d ordered a full Thanksgiving feast from a Texas BBQ, and it had been delivered at two. All they had to do was warm it up and set up the buffet. But he’d ordered for twenty people—wishful thinking on his part.
Lucy needed to be grateful for what she did have and the people who could visit for the holiday. They had friends, Sean’s brother Kane only lived a few hours away, and maybe she would have to make a bigger effort to visit family.
“Nate and Jesse are having an intense battle at the pool table,” Sean said. “And I think Jess might actually win this one.”
“He’s been practicing for months,” Lucy said. “He’s competitive, just like his father.” She smiled. Jesse had been a blessing in their lives, and she loved him more every day.
Their security system beeped a few seconds before the doorbell rang.
“That must be Kane and Siobhan,” Sean said as he got up. “They made good time.”
He opened the door. “Dillon!”
Lucy jumped up. Finally!
“They got us on an earlier flight,” Dillon said.
There was a lot of commotion at the door, and Lucy walked over.
Dillon and Kate weren’t the only ones who made an earlier flight.
“Patrick!” Lucy ran out and hugged her brother tightly. “You said you couldn’t come.”
Tears burned behind her eyelids.
He hugged her just as tightly back. “You can thank Dillon and Kate. They know people. Sean promised there would be enough food, so we brought guests.”
Lucy looked behind Patrick. Elle stood there with three kids, a teenage girl and two younger boys.
Lucy took a deep breath. Patrick loved Elle, and she would learn to love her, too. She walked over, smiled, and gave Elle a hug. “I’m so glad you came.” She looked at the kids. “I’m Lucy.”
Elle said, “Marianna, Pedro, and Carlos. I still don’t know how Kate got the judge to let me take them out of state, but I owe her big-time.”
Kate shook her head. “When the rules are stupid, we find a way to get around them.” She playfully hit Sean in the arm. “Isn’t that right, Sean?”
He grinned. “No comment. Kane’s still thirty minutes out, but you’re probably hungry. I have appetizers.”
“And a beer, I hope,” Patrick said.
“Harp, just for you, pal.”
They walked into the house. Lucy had never been happier. She put her arm around Sean. “You knew.”
“I knew Kate and Elle were working on it. Those kids lost everything and the system jerked them around. Split them up into three different foster homes. Marianna has been in and out of trouble, but most of it stemming from just trying to survive in a shitty home life. Elle wanted them together for Thanksgiving, but the judge wouldn’t let them leave DC—that’s why Patrick and Elle were going to stay. Kate pulled strings. She’s pretty amazing.”
“You’re pretty amazing, too.”
Sean kissed her. “I know.”
They followed their family and new friends into the house. Lucy blinked back tears.
Life is good.
Look for Allison Brennan’s other bestselling Lucy Kincaid novels
NOTHING TO HIDE
TOO FAR GONE
BREAKING POINT
MAKE THEM PAY
THE LOST GIRLS
NO GOOD DEED
BEST LAID PLANS
DEAD HEAT
COLD SNAP
STOLEN
STALKED
And don’t miss the thrilling Maxine Revere series
ABANDONED
SHATTERED
POISONOUS
COMPULSION
NOTORIOUS
All available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
ALSO BY ALLISON BRENNAN
Nothing to Hide
Too Far Gone
Abandoned
Breaking Point
Shattered
Make Them Pay
The Lost Girls
Poisonous
No Good Deed
Best Laid Plans
Compulsion
Dead Heat
Notorious
Cold Snap
Stolen
Stalked
Silenced
If I Should Die
Kiss Me, Kill Me
Love Me to Death
Carnal Sin
Original Sin
Cutting Edge
Fatal Secrets
Sudden Death
Playing Dead
Tempting Evil
Killing Fear
Fear No Evil
See No Evil
Speak No Evil
The Kill
The Hunt
The Prey
Praise for these other novels by New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
“If you haven’t been reading Brennan’s truly exceptional Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan series, then you have been missing out … In this mind-blowing installment, Brennan also gives readers a fascinating look into the mindset of her epic villains. A chilling thrill-fest from beginning to end.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!) on No Good Deed
“Allison Brennan reaches new heights in Poisonous, and this smart, sophisticated entry in the Maxine Revere series raises her to the level of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben.”
—Providence Journal
“A fast-paced, suspenseful read with interesting characters and sinister twists that keep you turning the pages for more.”
“Allison Brennan’s Poisonous has it all … A twisty and compelling read.”
—Lisa Unger
“Don’t miss Max Revere’s roller-coaster new thriller. Talk about grit and courage, Max never gives up.”
—Catherine Coulter on Compulsion
“Packs in the thrills as investigative reporter Max confronts new murders and old family secrets in a suspense novel guaranteed to keep you up late at night!”
—Lisa Gardner on Notorious
“Amazing … The interconnectivity
of Brennan’s books allows her ensemble of characters to evolve, adding a rich flavor to the intense suspense.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!) on Best Laid Plans
“Gut-wrenching and chilling, this is a story you won’t soon forget!”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) on Dead Heat
“All the excitement and suspense I have come to expect from Allison Brennan.”
—Fresh Fiction on Stolen
“Once again Brennan weaves a complex tale of murder, vengeance, and treachery filled with knife-edged tension and clever twists. The Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan novels just keep getting better!”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick) on Stalked
“Brennan throws a lot of story lines into the air and juggles them like a master. The mystery proves to be both compelling and complex … [A] chilling and twisty romantic suspense gem.”
—Associated Press on Silenced
“The evolution of Lucy Kincaid from former victim to instinctive and talented agent continues in Brennan’s new heart-stopping thriller … From first to last, this story grabs hold and never lets go.”
—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick) on Silenced
“Explosive suspense ratchets up with every turn of the page … will leave people clamoring for more stories of Max Revere. I know I will be!”
—James Rollins on Notorious
“Brennan introduces readers to a new and fascinating heroine worth rooting for. She’s an investigative reporter who’s not afraid to kick butt, climb a tree, or go to jail in pursuit of her story. She’s savvy and smart and takes no prisoners. Buckle up and brace yourself for Maxine Revere.”
—Sandra Brown on Notorious
ALLISON BRENNAN is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by the International Thriller Writers and is a two-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award by Kiss of Death. Married for more than a quarter of a century, Allison and her husband Dan raised five children. They recently relocated from California to Arizona with their two youngest where they are looking forward to baseball’s Spring Training and exploring the Grand Canyon.
Visit her website at: www.allisonbrennan.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Also by Allison Brennan
Praise for these other novels by New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Paperbacks, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
CUT AND RUN
Copyright © 2020 by Allison Brennan.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
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eISBN: 9781250217004
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / April 2020